Track down these soundtracks Like movies? Like music? It's time to go beyond Williams and Mancini.

As a movie fan and a music fan, I've discovered a new way to spend money.

My iTunes song list probably includes more movie music than most people's because I receive copies of soundtracks — I'm talking about background scores composed for movies, not collections of songs — and I often rip a song or two to play on my iPod. It doesn't make sense to me to upload whole CDs of fairly similar-sounding songs, but one or two cues from a favorite movie or score works great.

To supplement that music, I recently checked out movie music online and discovered a gold mine. The Internet — I found the biggest collection at iTunes, but you can download at Amazon, Rhapsody or any number of other services — is a great way to build a collection of old favorites and new discoveries.

If you're into this sort of thing, you probably already know about titans such as John Williams and Henry Mancini, but here are some other places you might want to start looking.

GREAT MOVIE THEMES

"Across the Hardanger Mountain Plateau" — Long after I've forgotten the Norwegian tragicomedy "O'Horten" (OK, I've kinda already forgotten it), I'll still be playing this beautiful, contemplative track by Kaada.

"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" — Recently, it occurred to me I loved Vince Guaraldi's music for the Charlie Brown Christmas special but didn't have any other Guaraldi. I began listening to his stuff and found this sunny, South American-influenced winner from "Black Orpheus," which has become one of my most-played tracks.

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"Glory (Closing Credits)" — I'm no fan of James Horner ("Titanic"), but this inspiring call to arms, featuring the Harlem Boys Choir, is lovely.

"Honor Him" — The "Gladiator" track, by Hans Zimmer, that best captures the film's muscular, sentimental brand of heroism.

"The Immigrant" — "The Godfather" might be worth buying in its entirety, but if you're looking to dip a toe in before you take the plunge, this quietly stirring track, rather than the familiar love theme, is your ticket. (A favorite of figure skaters, it's one of those songs you've probably heard many times without knowing what it is.)

"The Kiss" — Phillip Glass has composed a lot of music scores, beginning with his aggressive "Koyaanisqatsi" music. My favorite is this unusually melodic piece, which underscores a key moment in "The Hours."

"Lollapalooza" — "I Am Love" unites various John Adams works so beautifully that they seem to have been made for the movie. This dramatic piece was used to underscore a scene in which Tilda Swinton first starts to go off the romantic rails.

"The Purpose" — Trent Reznor collaborator Atticus Ross (they did "The Social Network" together) composed "The Book of Eli" alone. This weary but hopeful musical cue is the highlight.

Another way to go is to look for composers whose music you respond to. Here are few I love:

Elmer Bernstein — I vaguely knew his music, but listening to snippets acquainted me with much more, including the jazzy "Wagon Wheel Watusi" from "Baby, the Rain Must Fall" (it recently showed up in "Burlesque," too), the childlike "Main Title" from "To Kill a Mockingbird" and the seedy glamour of "Sweet Smell of Success."

Carter Burwell — I may have more of his orchestral-but-homey stuff on my iPod than any other movie composer, partially because of his longtime relationship with the Coen brothers (get "Fargo, North Dakota" from "Fargo" and the hymn-based "The Wicked Flee" from "True Grit") and partially not (the majestic "Arise, Clay," from "Gods and Monsters").

Patrick Doyle — I first noticed Doyle's music when Paul Wylie won silver, skating to a theme from "Henry V" in the 1992 Olympics. You'll get that piece and more if you download "St. Crispin's Day." Another Emma Thompson movie, "Sense and Sensibility," gave Doyle a chance to compose the sweetly romantic "A Particular Sum."

Michael Giacchino — The new genius of soundtrack composition, based on his work for TV's "Lost" (try not to sob during "Rose and Bernard") and movies. The ones you have to have are the swaggering "Life's Incredible Again" from "The Incredibles" and the tender "Married Life," from "Up."

Ennio Morricone — You really need a compilation with at least two CDs of this master's music. But a few favorites: "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission" (another one you probably know even if you don't think you do), the bananas theme from "The Big Gundown," his grandiose "The Untouchables (End Title)," the lovely "1900s Theme" from "The Legend of 1900" and his elegiac "Cinema Paradiso."

Michael Nyman — Using repetitive themes that build to big climaxes, Nyman may remind you of Philip Glass. I'm a big fan of his "The Sacrifice" from "The Piano," "Darren" from "Wonderland" and the glorious "A Snowy Day" from "The Claim."

Gustavo Santoalallo — If you loved the soaring, melancholy theme from "Brokeback Mountain," "The Wings" is the track you're looking for. Santoalallo's "Apertura," a beginning-of-a-joyful-roadtrip song from "The Motorcycle Diaries," is also terrific.